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Is the world ready for an African pope?

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More than 80% of Africans surveyed say Africa is ready for African pope, but fewer believe world is ready

20,000 people in 11 African nations answered questions about attitudes to the pope and Catholicism

Africans shared thoughts on the Catholic Church and faith, racism, homosexuality and the future

Thousands of Africans have expressed their hopes that the next pope will be the first from their continent -- with a majority believing it would mean the Catholic Church becoming more conservative.

The survey of 20,000 people, conducted on mobile phones across 11 nations, also exposed big divisions among Africans about the future direction of the church, including faith, homosexuality and race.

"An African pope will bring about more unity on the continent and confidence in Africans," said one woman from Zimbabwe, while a young Nigerian man polled said an African pope "will eradicate immoralities, such as same-sex marriage."

CNN commissioned the survey, partnering with Jana.com, which has pioneered polling in developing countries with fast-growing mobile networks.

Jana, meaning 'people' in Sanskrit, rewards participants in their mobile phone surveys with additional air time.

Mobile phone use has skyrocketed in Africa, climbing from 9.2 million subscribers in 2000 to more than 648 million subscribers in 2011 -- more users than the U.S. or the European Union, according to the World Bank.

Most respondents (86%) thought an African pope would increase support for Catholicism in Africa, while just over 50% believed the church would become more conservative if that happened. On the other hand, 21% thought that it would become less conservative.

CNN also asked respondents what an African pope would mean for them and for Africa. The comments revealed a wide range of views on the church's role.